Pleasure raft



May .8, 1928.

B. W. M GlNNIS PLEASURE RAFT Filed March 1926 v. rm n e w 9 5. w. mc/Mv/s.

Patented May 8, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,668,860 PATENT oi-rice.

BASIL w. mam-ms, or BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, assreiroa, BY MEBNE Assmrrj uan'mro unrvansar. area oranama.

METAL MFG. co, or BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, A consona- PLEASURE RAFT.

Application filed March 28, 1826. Serial No. 97,789. Q

My invention relates to a new andimproved type of amusement device in the form I of a raft especially designed for aquatic sports and which is adapted to support the body of the swimmer partly submerged and in such position that the arms are free for use in propelling the raft by oars if desired while the legs of the swimmer may be used to assist in its propulsion;

More particularly, my invention contemplates the provision of a pair of spaced buoys of suflicint size to support the weight of the swimmers body while lying partly on the waters surface, these floats being cross connected by a rigid cross board or support so designed as to brace and tie the floats together and to support the body in a. comfortable attitude in which the arms will be left free for manipulation of cars having oar locks mounted in the forward ends of the floats.

My invention further comprises the novel details of construction and arrangements of parts, which are hereinafter more particularly described and claimed, and which in their preferred embodiment only are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which Fig. 1 is a planview of my float.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation. ofone of floats shown in Fig. 1. a

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the forward end of one of the floats showing the manner of mounting an car look thereon; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 and showing the preferredmanner of mounting the board or cross body support on the floats.

Similar reference numerals refer to'similar parts throughout the drawings.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated, I show the raft as comprising a pair the any suitable construction and formed of any suitable material that will enable them to possess the requisite buoyancy. These floats are preferably provided with pointed tips 3 at each end and to each float I attach in any suitable way a pair of spaced angles 4 and 5 which continue in an inclined plane from the rear underside of the float about its inner side and up over to a point adjacent to the of tubular floats 1 and 2 which may be of uqper forward side of the float; They thus fo low an irregular spiral and are disposed half way below and half way above a hori Zontal medium plane through the float-s.

Having arranged these angles on the adjacent sides'of the floats it will be seen that, as viewed in side elevation, they lie parallel to a common inclined plane and I provide a center cross board 6, which preferably is formed in one piece and which thus flares symmetrically from its center towards each end so as to fit throughout its length at each side in the seat or socket provided between the pairs of angles. This board is bolted at intervals to the angles and thus, coming partly above and partly below the floats and being riveted or otherwise rigidly secured to the frame, it provides in a snnple and inexpensive manner a cross bracing and spacing member for the raft as a whole. This board is preferably reinforced by longitudinal bottom cleats 7.

In order that the raft may be capable of propulsion. I clamp about the forward end of each float a clamp band 8 carrying a roller or pin 9 by means of which an car 10 is connected to each band and held in assembled relationship on the raft. The handles of the oars come into convenient position to be grasped and operated by the hands of a swimmer whose body is resting at a comfortable inclination on the raft board 6 with the legs floating in and on the water.

The raft at the center of the forward end of the board 6 is provided with a ring or loop 11 by which a tow rope can be attached to the raft when it is desired to tow it or by means of which it can be anchored.

The raft has the. distinct advantage of leaving the larger portion of the users body submerged so that it does not function in any sense like the usual floats which are intended to have suflicient buoyancy to support one or more persons thereon. By designing the raft to leave a large partof the body submerged the pleasure of swimming can be had with safety andwith the power of propulsion by oar.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A raft of the character described, comprising elongated side floats adapted to partly support the weight of a swimmer in the water, an upwardly inclined body-supporting means forming a cross brace connect- 3. A pleasure raft of the character described, comprising a pair of cylindrical floats, spaced angles attached to the adjacent sides of the floats and rising in a common inclined plane from the lower rear portion of the float to the upper forward portion of the float, a body supporting board flaring from the center towards each end, means to mount the side edges of each board between said pair of angles, and means at the forward end of the raft for its propulsion, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

BASIL W. MoGINNIS. 

